Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!yale!bunker!wtm From: wtm@bunker.UUCP (Bill McGarry) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: Smoking as a disability Message-ID: <9489@bunker.UUCP> Date: 8 Jan 90 04:12:04 GMT Reply-To: Miriam Clifford Distribution: misc Lines: 25 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 6161 Re: Smoking as a disability I basically agree with the view that since smoking can (however difficult it is to do so) be stopped it is not a disability in the sense that other conditions are. However, I'd hate to get into a situation where it has to be decided for every disabled person, whether or not he/she had some part in creating the disability. I know persons with hearing impairments, for example, who take much asperin--known to impair hearing. Or, how about the kids who are in or listening to high volume rock bands. Or using power blowers or lawn mowers with no ear muffs. I'm sure there are similar behaviors around other disabilities. Anyway, to me, deciding factor in preventing smoking in public places, is not whether the smoker is disabling him/her self. It is that smoking is harmful to the health of others around the smoker. That is, you can do whatever you want to do to yourself by smoking, but YOU CAN'T INJURE ME! BTW, I was a 2 pack+ a day smoker and quit--20 years ago. I still feel it's attraction occasionally. But don't plan to every smoke again!